America: Starting with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 38: Demanding Unpaid Wages

Helplessly, he said, "Ok! We can talk, what exactly do you want to do?"

"Pay back the wages you deducted from me. Today is my last day working here!" Simone said.

"Is that all?"

The restaurant owner was stunned, somewhat unable to understand, but greatly shocked. He had thought the other would ask for thousands of US Dollars as hush money.

Just for those few hundred dollars in wages?

"Fxxk you! What do you take us for? Burglars? We are ethical people; hurry up and do it!" Simone cursed.

"Ok." The restaurant owner wilted.

A mixed-race Black person coming over, getting choked by her boyfriend, and then talking about ethics; the world had really changed.

Minutes later, both parties sat down, negotiated amicably, and resolved the matter. The restaurant owner willingly agreed to pay triple the deducted wages, giving Simone her deducted wages plus double pay for a day, adding up to $760, and requested them not to make the video public.

Simone readily agreed.

It was reasonable to take back the deducted wages, and getting double or triple was normal, but asking for more would be rude.

She didn’t want the restaurant owner accusing her of burglary, which would drag Allen Zhang and her into jail.

If you were a judge, who would you believe? A middle-class immigrant who pays taxes on time or an unemployed, undocumented Asian homeless person, or a Black girl whose false rental credentials got her listed as a dishonest person?

After resolving the matter, the two followed the restaurant owner to the lobby. Simone also changed into her uniform; things should be seen through, at least she was still supposed to be fed in the restaurant today.

The restaurant owner calmed a few employees as well. He didn’t explain much, just asked them to act like nothing had happened and to continue opening the doors for business.

The Indian guy, who had been dazed by Allen Zhang’s punch, also recovered consciousness, looking at him with eyes full of fear, and even approached the boss threatening to call the police! But was firmly vetoed by the restaurant owner, who knew his own faults.

The Indian guy refused to swallow the insult and definitely didn’t want to agree to a settlement.

Not until the restaurant owner assumed a haughty attitude from the past, threatening to fire him, saying he could either stay and continue to work or get out and be homeless.

Allen Zhang also flexed his fists, intimidating him with his gaze. Bro, if I were you, I definitely wouldn’t do that!

I’d go to jail, but you’d lose your life.

The guy, weighing between losing his job and getting beaten up again for demanding compensation, ultimately decided to keep his job and compromised on the matter.

Both parties were happy, except the guy who took a punch for nothing.

I believe next time he definitely won’t be the one charging to the front.

Before leaving, Allen Zhang also issued a warning and final ultimatum to the restaurant owner, "Listen up, I’m coming to pick up my girlfriend after work tonight. If I find out she’s been harassed or treated unfairly during work, I will smash your restaurant and screw your head off and stuff it into a Komodo dragon’s ass!!"

"Rest assured! Sir! I definitely will not do that!"

The restaurant owner assured, not even daring to breathe heavily, all he thought about was keeping the peace and how dare he offend such a tough guy.

He also dared not continue employing Simone there, wishing she’d leave soon.

Given the recent poor business, he was already planning to move the store and relocate his family to San Francisco.

Damn, the street violence and bullying by gangsters on the West Coast are really too much!

Allen Zhang was also internally criticizing.

What, bullying others with violence is my doing?

Then never mind.

Before leaving, Simone also embraced Allen Zhang, giving him a fierce kiss on the face, and pulled out sixty US dollars, "You are so cool, Allen. This is your well-deserved reward!"

"Thank you, sweetheart."

Allen Zhang casually took the sixty US dollars, saying it was unnecessary as they were close.

"Sweetie, remember to come pick me up after work tonight!"

"Of course. Simone, can I borrow your bicycle?"

He easily won her favor and temporarily captured the heart of the Black girl.

Because human emotions are fickle, focusing on the novelty.

It’s possible to like you yesterday and not like you tomorrow. It’s also possible not to like you before using, but to like you after using.

"You just take it and use it." Simone generously lent him the bicycle.

"See you tonight."

Allen Zhang waved suavely, riding off under Simone’s watchful gaze.

He got lost after just about two streets.

There were just too many intersections in these streets and alleys.

He took out his phone, used Google Maps to check his location, and discovered that Sunkist Bar and Carnation Club on Hopson Street were only about a dozen streets apart, corresponding east to west, belonging to the same community, not far at all.

Great, connecting the block into one, forming a treasure trove of secrets.

Allen Zhang started pedaling, zooming through the streets, and felt that having a mode of transportation was much faster than walking, and he might consider getting one himself later.

He quickly arrived at Meiji Street and pinpointed Sunkist Bar accurately.

Even during the day, it was open for business, with people coming in and out, essentially offering 24-hour uninterrupted service, and there were several individuals outside the bar smoking leaves and heavily drunk.

At first glance, they were all Frank replicas.

As if drawing a tube of their blood would show it’s all alcohol, containing no blood components.

Allen Zhang took a round outside, but couldn’t seem to find any trash bin.

Finally, he locked his bicycle at the front door, pushed open the door, and immediately saw a different world inside.

Neon lights flickered, the brightness of the space seemed to be dialed down a few notches, and the windows were covered with a special tinting film, preventing any daylight from penetrating through.

Upon entering, Allen Zhang immediately smelled the strong scent of alcohol and tobacco in the air.

Several old drinkers were sitting at the bar, drinking, chatting with frivolous talks, and discussing outlandish topics.

The bartender wiped the glasses with a white towel, occasionally mixing drinks for them, chatting and laughing, enlivening the atmosphere.

Behind the bar stood rows of spirits, like Remy Martin, Black Spade A... but none of these were there.

Only empty bottles used as decorations.

Allen Zhang also saw the empty bottle of Desire Mermaid, encased in glass, likely genuine.

The walls also featured clocks, graffiti photos, green plant pots, and flat swordfish plastic ornaments.

Most of the displayed items were cheap tequila, several 10-liter oak barrels of cheap dark and light beer, Budweiser, glass bottles of vodka, and whiskey.

There were also people gathered around a table, holding a deck of cards, cursing, with cigarettes in their mouths, noses red, looking drunk.

They occasionally turned their heads, their gazes sweeping over a few Western girls dressed as Bunny Girls holding trays, making vulgar laughs with frivolous talk.

In another spacious and secluded area, several sofas were arranged, with banners pulled across, and a stage in the middle set up with steel poles, which Allen Zhang immediately recognized its use. Who knew the bar had this kind of special service?

It’s probably only during special times at night when the pole dancing takes place, during the day policemen would patrol here, no one would gather there for any indecent activities.

In another corner, several sofas were placed, with two TVs mounted on the wall showing horse racing and Powerball gambling scenes.

A few gambling addicts held lottery tickets, glued their eyes to the horse racing scene, pounding on the table in unison, emitting encouraging sounds.

With a whistle sound, several men simultaneously uttered curses starting with ’F’, then tore up their lottery tickets into shreds, throwing them on the floor, scattering them in the air, costing from a few to several dozen US dollars.

After losing money, they sullenly went to down a drink, with blonde Bunny Girls beside them holding trays came up, kindly asking if they wanted another round.

This scene.

Allen Zhang first thought he had entered a familiar high-heeled shoe strip club.